Hanoi & Halong Bay Explorer

After picking up from your hotel, get acquainted with your fellow adventurers. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Your guide can suggest restaurants and bar venues for you.

Today enjoy taking in the key sights of this bustling capital city. Putting a bit of a twist on a conventional city tour, you will experience a variety of modes of transportation rather than using one dedicated vehicle. One minute you will be in a taxi, the next you'll be walking through narrow alleyways, then on a cycle rickshaw, and then maybe on the back of a motor-scooter for a short way. Beyond the transport twists, the idea is to see Hanoi with a proud local. See the main sites of Ngoc Son Temple, St. Joseph's Cathedral, the Temple of Literature and the notorious Hoa Lo Prison. In between, eat some local food, meet some fun characters, and get a bit of an insight into how this city ticks.

Evening walking tour and dinner & beer in Hanoi's Old Quarter.

We will transfer to the ship of Indochine Cruise to embark around lunch, followed by a welcome drink, the cruise and safety briefing and a delicious lunch. Enjoy the views of the dramatic limestones and bays.

We arrive at a quiet area Lan Ha Bay. Passengers take the quick transfer by speedboat Cat Ba Island and we do a short excursion to Viet Hai village where we take a stroll around the idyllic enclave and see the fabulously rustic homes of the locals. We then take our bicycles or electric car onto village paths and head into some of the lush greenery for which Cat Ba Island is known.

Back on board, join a cooking class before we enjoy dinner in the ship's restaurant.

Before bed, treat yourself with a massage or try your luck with squid finishing.

Your guide will take you to visit the Dark and Bright (also known as Bat Cave) grotto, known for its stunning limestone structure. The best way to explore this cave is by Kayaking or taking a bamboo sampan. This is a UNESCO Heritage site and also the nature reserve area of Cat Ba National Park.

We set sail during breakfast and approach the harbor, giving you the opportunity to soak up the last of the magical atmosphere of Lan Ha from the sundeck. Approximate arrival at port Tuan Chau Port is 11:15 am followed by a transfer to Hanoi city (2hrs) or Hanoi airport (2hrs15min).